Every Day Here is a New Adventure

Yesterday, Jeff and I went to the Newcomers Brief. There were many presenters from all different offices around Camp Zama. It was good, very informative. The presenters were very personable and told us how much we would love it here. The only people who don't like being here are those who have no sense of adventure, and fortunately there are very few.
We had our favorite dinner last night. The Community Club has it every Wednesday night. It's Mongolian BBQ. We get a bowl and fill it with all kinds of raw veggies and raw meats, add some sauce to it and then the cooks stir fry it for us in the kitchen. This was our 3rd Wednesday eating there because it is so good!
After dinner we went to a Girl Scout meeting with Marin, our first ever. There were lots of girls between 5 and 10. Jeff and I enjoyed visiting with other parents while the girls did their opening exercises and sang their songs. The activity of the night was trying Sushi! It was hard to do on a full stomach, but I did it just to say I did! It was okay. It would help to be hungry when I try it again though. Jeff really liked it. He also liked the rice and tuna covered in bright orange salmon eggs that burst between your teeth. I tried that too, but wasn't too ready for that. Again, it would help to be really hungry. Marin wouldn't try it at all.
As for girls Scouts? I'm not sure what to think. I'm sure it's a good thing, but I come from a family that is not in the least into scouting. And singing cheesy songs is so against the grain for me. But Jeff is an Eagle Scout and is all for this. He was helping Marin memorize the motto on the way home. That's fine. It will be their Daddy Daughter date each week! Just don't rope me into it.

Today---Finally a break! We have been going, going, going constantly the whole time we have been here, plus we live in one small room so I don't get time or space to relax in privacy. I am someone who needs plenty of that. So, today Jeff went to another day of Newcomer Briefings, I opted out, and Marin went to the CDC (Child Development Center). She went on a field trip with the CDC to an aquarium an hour away and had a great time!!! I enjoyed a day of personal time alone in the peace and quiet in our room!! I feel so much better now!
We have been trying to get a car for the last week, but there have only been a few cars here for sale and they are not available for another 2 weeks. There is a car lot near our church that has great cars but we can't get there without a car. So, when a friend of ours said he was heading over there to get a car for his wife, we asked if we could go with them. John was happy to take us, especially since he didn't know the way there and Jeff did. It worked out very well and was a fun evening for both families. Both families piled into their van and we went over to the lot. The kids had fun wiping the big water drops off the cars after a day of pouring rain, and the adults had fun looking at all the cheap cars!!!
Used cars are ridiculously cheap here! It's great, especially because the Japanese take care of their cars and things far better than Americans do. We got a '96 Honda CRV for about $2500, plus other fees. It looks great and we're excited about it.
Our friends got a car too. After that we went to McDonalds on the Navy Base, and all had fun there too. We really like our friends. They have a 6 year old girl who gets along well with Marin.
Here is our new car! It has a sun roof, fogs lights, side mirrors that electronically fold in for all those tight squeezes, and an extra side mirror on the front end so we can see down on the left side of the car. For us Americans, who are used to having the bulk of the car on our right, that will be immensely helpful. (Jeff hit a curb and almost took out some construction barriers, all on the left side, when we test drove a car the other day.)

Look at the Japanese writing. It's crazy to think they can actually read that, and someday I will too!